Brick Pollitt is an early-to-middle aged second generation crop planter and plantation owner that seemingly has everything. Brick, however, is overwhelmed by feelings of self-disgust that send him spiraling into alcoholism. During this especially destructive period in his life, Brick’s wife, Margaret shoulders the responsibilities of managing all of his estate, and managing Brick himself. While on leave to Memphis to attend the funeral of a dead family member, Margaret had left Brick unattended and he started a relationship with the recently widowed wife of his doctor, Dr. Grey, who had died from some neurological event.  Brick Pollitt later purchases and renovates Dr. Grey’s house for Mrs. Grey, his new mistress, and her 12 year old daughter, Mary Louise, who is widely disliked in the community. While drunk, Brick becomes determined to overcome his alcoholism with the same strategy of a croquet where progress is made incrementally, step by step. As time progresses, Brick frequents Mrs. Grey’s house less and less, but in one of his final visits, he, after offending both Mrs. Grey and Mary Louise’s pretentious sensibilities, starts the sprinklers and undresses on one of the front-facing lawns of the house. The police come to collect Brick but an hour later, Mrs. Grey has him returned from the station. Later, and after another incident with the police at the Grey’s house, Mrs. Grey’s house and car are put up for sale on orders from Mrs. Pollitt— Brick’s wife. Brick returns to Margaret and Mrs. Grey and little Mary Louise are run out of town, never to be seen again.  The story is told from the perspective of a 12 year old boy, a neighbor of Mary Louise and Mrs. Grey.